Burnaby Permit Fees & Deposits Guide
Bylaw fee schedules, sliding valuation scales, refundable damage deposits, and required upfront plan check deposits for construction in Burnaby, BC.
When budgeting a construction or renovation project in Burnaby, municipal permit fees and refundable damage securities represent essential upfront expenditures. Rather than simple flat charges, Burnaby calculates building permit costs based on total construction value, paired with refundable damage deposits to protect public infrastructure.
Whether you are planning a secondary suite, laneway dwelling, custom single-family home, multiplex addition, or commercial tenant improvement, this guide clarifies how City Hall calculates fees, what securities are required at intake, and how to submit complete drawing packages for first-round approval.
Burnaby Permit Fee Quick Calculator
Official Bylaw Sliding Scale Estimator
Select your project classification and enter estimated construction valuation below to calculate the base permit rate, upfront intake plan check deposit, and refundable damage deposits.
* Damage deposits are held by Burnaby and refunded upon final building inspection approval. Does not include trade permits (plumbing/electrical/gas) or regional DCC development charges.
How Burnaby Assesses Your Permit Fees
Value Assessment
City examiners evaluate declared contract costs against standardized valuation schedules ($/sq ft).
Bylaw Sliding Scale
Base fees scale progressively based on project scope, square footage, and declared value.
Security Deposits
Refundable damage deposit protects sidewalks, boulevards, curbs, and road assets during construction.
Intake Plan Check
An intake deposit initiates active plan examination with Burnaby building officials.
City of Burnaby - 2025 Detailed Permit Fees Guide
A detailed breakdown of common permit fees for new builds, renovations, and demolitions in Burnaby, based on the 2025 fee schedule.
| Category / Project Scope | Minimum / Base Fee | Incremental Rate / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit | ||
| $0 - $1,000 Construction Value | $75.00 | Flat fee |
| $1,001 - $20,000 Construction Value | $75.00 | Plus $22.00 per $1,000 over $1,000 |
| $20,001 - $200,000 Construction Value | $493.00 | Plus $15.00 per $1,000 over $20,000 |
| Over $200,000 Construction Value | $3,193.00 | Plus $13.15 per $1,000 over $200,000 |
| Damage Deposit (Other Buildings) | ||
| For commercial/multi-family. Separate $439+ Inspection Fee applies | $10,687 | Refundable deposit, increases with property frontage. |
| Damage Deposit (Single/Two-Family) | ||
| Required for construction or demolition. Separate $220 Inspection Fee applies | $7,750 | Refundable deposit |
| Demolition Permit (Other Buildings) | ||
| For commercial, multi-family, or accessory buildings. | $922.50 | Flat fee Accessory buildings are $86.50 |
| Demolition Permit (Single/Two-Family) | ||
| This is the fee for the permit itself. | $369 | Flat fee |
| Demolition Waste Diversion Fees | ||
| Required for all demolition projects. | $258.50 Non-refundable | Plus a refundable deposit of $2.25 per sq ft (max $50,000) |
| Permit Application Fee (Upfront) | ||
| Paid for all building permits at time of application. | 20% of estimated Permit Fee | Min $75, Max $8,304 |
Navigating Burnaby Hall Shouldn't Delay Your Build
Municipal fees only cover plan review. Missing zoning data sheets or non-compliant BC Building Code details trigger formal deficiency notices that delay your permit 4 to 8 weeks. Canadian Blueprint prepares complete, intake-ready CAD permit drawing packages engineered for smooth first-round approvals.
Why Work With Canadian Blueprint
- ✓ Intake-Ready Drawing Sets Tailored specifically to Burnaby municipal submittal standards.
- ✓ Zero Plan Examiner Surprises Full spatial separation, setback, and height zoning calculations.
- ✓ Deficiency Resolution Included Direct response to municipal comments so your project stays on schedule.
Related Burnaby Permit Resources
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